I ended up going with a 5 shelf Mapleshade Samson. From what I could tell the Grand Prix is the ultimate, but it's very pricey and somewhat inflexible if my system were to dramatically change (always a possibility).
The Mapleshade seems to have solved the major problem with my system. Previously I was using a Target stand made of stamped steel with glass shelves. If I played music at high volumes (>85dB) the sound could take on a hardness in the upper midrange/lower treble. It was particularly noticeable on muted trumpet. With the addition of the Mapleshade the problem has disappeared.
BTW, the Mapleshade is very well built, but the quality of the 2" shelves is not what I would call grade-A furniture quality. It's good, maybe even very good, but it's not excellent. The imperfections are very noticeable when the shelves are unpacked. Once the rack is assembled it's much harder to see the flaws. I chose cherry stained shelves with black uprights and the rack actually looks quite handsome.
One last thing, the Mapleshade people were wonderful to deal with and very responsive to my questions and inquiries. |
If you are interested in Mapleshade, be aware that they can custom make their Samson shelf to any size and number of shelfs you want. I have a custom size on order,so I can't offer any comments on it, but I was very impressed using one of their 2" thick maple shelfs as an amplifier stand. |
Sc53, interesting comment about the placement of your turntable. My RPM is a non-suspension design with a steel base. From your comments I should be able to place the RPM directly on the Sistrum. Thanks. |
Rix Rax. http://www.rixrax.com
The Hoodoo is one very good looking piece of audio gear. saw one in action in the Pipedreams/Tenor room at last years THE show in NY |
Theaudiotweak is the expert on these. I think he might sleep with the racks at night. You can see the disk on their website. These will protect your floor from the points. I don't think there is significant impact on performance with these. As far as looks that is so much personal taste I don't know how to characterize it. I like them and my buddies loved them. As to your other criteria it is met on all counts. I thought the price was pretty fair. |
I have owned many many racks and now own the Sistrum 5- shelf (plus Sistrum stands under my floorstanding speakers). You can use the discs under the spiked feet on your hardwood floor, as someone else has pointed out. I think the looks are stunning and the shelves can all be individually adjusted to wherever you want them. I can also add a 6th shelf if I need it. Also--I didn't think I could do this, but I place my Linn LP12 on the top shelf, with the Audiopoints on the edge of the metal bottom plate of the TT (on the Trampolin base), and the TT sounds fantastic! It really works on that rack. So--another vote for the Sistrum. |
I have the arcici. It's not tops in looks. Looks are functional. The air suspension really helps. I have a lot of heavy stuff, and it works fine. good luck. I wish I could hear these side by side...they all sound different. |
Resonance transfer can be completed on hardwood or tile with the addition of Sistrum APCD discs under the Audiopoint attached to the bottom of each vertical pillar of a Sistrum rack or platform. This disc is designed to be a collector on one side and a transfer distribution device that comes in direct contact with the previously mentioned hard surfaces on the other side. These devices are the best available... Lead free, no rubber, no dampening to impede or mask , only the pedal to the metal so as to hear all the real things. These devices increase the efficiency of all devices placed on them, unlike the race car rack with high mass shelves and shock absorbing grommets which collect and store. Where does this stored energy go? Back into the shelf directly under the component. There is no high speed pathway provided for the captured energy to exit!! Sistrum qualifies above and beyond all mentioned criteria. Tom |
There is only one....Grand Prix Audio Monaco. |
Ksales, thank for your response. You're not alone in praising the Sistrum. I cannot spike the rack directly to the floor. There will have to be some sort of floor protector. Will this impact the effectiveness of the Sistrum?
Stehno, my priorities (not in any order) are:
- looks
- vibe isolation (from external sources & other components)
- flexible configurations (3 to 6 shelves)
- price (will pay high dollars for perfection) |
On Hwy 61, what's your budget for a rack?
And of the following, may I ask which is your order of priority?
o Isolation from vibration.
o aesthetics.
o price.
o flexibile configurations.
o number of shelves.
o proper ventalation
o mobility (casters or spikes).
o height |
I have two sistrum racks six shelves each. I love them. The resonance handling properties is real and works. Great soundstage from my equipment using these. The cosmetics are unique and innovative. I could frankly go on and on, but there have been a large number of threads here on the subject and a search under audio points and sistrum should yeild significant results. I looked at some of the other mfgrs. you mentioned and all have fine credible products which should be seriously evaluated. I found in most cases that they were attempting to duplicate some of the audio point technology invented by Brent Rhiel at Star Sound a number of years ago. Also, while using some reasonable approaches for resonance control such as sand or other materials the micro bearings developed by Brent really do a better job. He has integrated the micro bearing in the sonoran cable, which I have and the results are pretty good. I tried the racks without the micro bearings and with sand. In both instances there significant improvement in the sound of my equipment using them. Robert at Star Sound would probably be more than glad to discuss all this with them if you call. |
